Category Archives: Scandinavia

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Ballardites: Norwegian events are happening this weekend in downtown Ballard! Even if you’re not into lye-soaked, fermented fish (aka lutefisk), there will be something for all of us to choose from, starting tonight Friday, March 16th, and running through Saturday, March 17th. Here’s a summary of what’s happening, and where to read more information:

FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH

Photo: Scott Radford

VIKING BINGOTonight from 8 pm-11 pm, the Ballard Elks #827 are hosting Viking Bingo Night for a good cause. Add flair by coming in costume. Or come as yourself. Or better yet, come as yourself in costume. Either way, enjoy cash prizes, commeraderie, drinks and snacks.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17th
NORWEGIAN HERITAGE DAY / TASTES OF NORWAY
Start with a 5k Run at 9 am, then immerse yourself in all things traditional Nordic after that. Does life get any better? Listen to live Norwegian music, learn about the beautiful murals in the Ballard Sons of Norway’s Leif Erikson Lodge, sample or watch authentic Norwegian cooking demos (lutefisk not required), as well as dance, clothing, handicrafts, genealogy, and more.

LEIF TO LEIF 5K FUN RUN/WALKFunds from the run/walk go toward Leif Erikson Lodge repairs/upgrades and the Ballard Senior Center. Registration/Check-In is at 8 am, Run is at 9 am. $10 for adults, $5 for children.Run/Walk’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/178197896127596/

The music has started, the decorations are going up, and each night, another house is lit up in the most festive of colors. If you ARE ready for some good ol’ fashioned Holiday cheer (so, basically unless you’re Scrooge?), head down to the Nordic Heritage Museum’s Annual Yulefest this Saturday and Sunday, November 18th and 19th!

Yulefest features all things Scandinavian and all things holiday, making it the perfect event to get in that ’God Jul’ (Merry Christmas) spirit!

Enjoy traditional Nordic-inspired items from many different vendors, plenty of delicious Scandinavian sweet and savory treats at the Nordic Cafe (even get some to go for later!) and traditional and contemporary Nordic music and dance will be performed on three different stages.

Kids are encouraged to have fun and get crafty with plenty of kid-oriented crafts, a raffle and the opportunity to meet the man we all want a visit from in December, Santa Claus (or, Julenissen in Norwegian, Jultomten in Swedish)!

Grown-ups are also encouraged to have plenty of fun and toast the season in the Valhalla Beer Garden (which will be nice and toasty warm!) with a tasty beverage including the Nordic-fav hot mulled wine, glögg. Skål (cheers!) to that!

Yulefest is a wonderful celebration of culture, the holidays and community. If you’re ready for some serious holiday spirit, good food, fun music and maybe even some holiday shopping, Yulefest is the place to be!

When you think of anything Scandinavian in Seattle, you have to think of Ballard and there’s no better time to get your fix than at the Norway Norwegian Cultural and Heritage Day this Saturday, March 19!

Get ready for a day filled with Norwegian-themed fun, and lots of tasty food! Enjoy a Scandinavian smorgasbord of delightfully authentic Norwegian favorites such as krumkaker, smorbrod sandwiches, ertesuppe pea soup and of course, lefse, to name a few. Watch live demonstration of how these tasty traditions are made, so you can make them yourself at home, when the cravings kick in. The festival will also feature plenty of lively traditional Norwegian music, live demonstrations of traditional Norwegian crafts, and genealogy experts to help you better connect to your Norse roots, or see if you have any to begin with. Folks are encouraged to dress in traditional garb, and, if they can, to participate in the Bunad Parade of clothing and jewelry, at 12pm.

The festivities kick off with the Leif-to-Leif walk/run (from the Leif Erikson Lodge to the statue of Leif Erikson at Shilshoe Bay and back) at 9am. Come (a little) hungry, as you will be rewarded for your efforts with a tasty heart-shaped waffle and the Norse’s favorite waffle-topper, homemade jam.

What better way to start your weekend then with some movement, tasty foods and a lot of fun in beautiful Ballard? There’s never been a better excuse to get your Viking on and there won’t be again…until next year, that is.

It’s that time of year again! This Sunday, May 17th the streets of Ballard will fill with as many as 25,000 spectators and Norway enthusiast to celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day. The parade will feature more than 100 groups, including marching bands, Norwegian-American lodges, drill teams, classic cars and so much more.

The party kicks off with a dance party on Saturday night, May 16th, held at Ballard Elks (6411 Seaview Ave NW) from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. $10 at the door, snacks provided as well as a no-host bar.

Sunday, the daylong annual Nordic party will go from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is sure to be a really great day in the name of Norway! See below for the schedule of events.

For the last 37 years, Ballard’s Nordic Heritage Museum has ushered in the holiday season with Yulefest, its celebration of Nordic Christmas, with traditional Scandinavian music, games, food, and much more. This year’s event is taking place this Saturday, November 22, and Sunday the 23rd at the museum, and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.

Warm up with a glass of the traditional Scandinavian hot mulled wine known as gløgg (or glögg if you are Swedish), and munch on Danish ableskiver pastries, Norwegian krumkake waffle cookies, lefse, and authentic Nordic-style open-faced sandwiches. Scandinavian folk dancers, singers, and fiddlers will keep the crowd entertained between bites, and more than 40 merchants will be selling Nordic-inspired goods, providing a great chance to pick up some unique Christmas gifts that you won’t find in your average store. And don’t forget to buy a handful of raffle tickets as some great prizes will be up for grabs, including the grand prize of two round-trip tickets to Scandinavia aboard Iceland Air!

This event is completely family friendly, and there will be a visit from Santa as well as craft projects to keep little ones entertained. Tickets are $5 (kids 12 and under are free), and admission is free for Nordic Heritage Museum members. If you would like to volunteer at the event, fill out the online volunteer form here, or e-mail volunteer coordinator Michael Ide at michaeli@nordicmuseum.org.

Despite dramatic changes in Ballard over the past several years, the neighborhood retains its strong Scandinavian identity, which is no better demonstrated than at the annual Syttende Mai (17th of May in Norwegian) parade, a celebration of the signing of the Norwegian constitution in 1814.

Ballard has been holding its celebration of Norwegian independence for 150 years, and these days the parade, which begins near 24th Ave NW and NW 60th and makes its way through Bergen Place park and down Ballard Avenue through Old Ballard, draws as many as 20,000 spectators. You’ll see drill teams, marching bands, community groups and plenty of Norwegian musical groups such as the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle. Though the parade is the grand finale of the event, Ballard will be celebrating all day long with music, food, kids activities, and much more! Here’s a sampling of other events happening throughout the day:

It is once again time for the annual Viking Days at the Ballard Nordic Heritage Museum on August 17-18. This annual event will feature authentic food, live music, and plenty of activities to keep the kids busy. Each day starting at 9:00 am there will be a Swedish pancake breakfast followed by a full day of activities lasting until 5:00 pm.

Along with the various Nordic themed food items, they will also feature authentic music and dance from different local groups. For kids they will have low cost craft stations set up as well as the Nordic Spirit ship available to take pictures with.

For a complete schedule about this Ballard tradition, please visit their website here.

This week is your last chance to grab a beer at the Copper Gate Bar in Ballard as they are set to close their doors at the end of this month for the final time. The Copper Gate is known for their classic Viking ship bar top, quality food, and live music performances.

A brief message can be found on the Copper Gate Facebook page that reads, “We enjoyed serving people for seven years. It’s been a good run,” says the owners of Copper Gate. “We would like to thank our loyal customers, our staff, the musicians who performed at our space, and Ballard for having us. We had a great time having the place and we wish the new owners the best.”

Also on their Facebook page they state that a celebration of the Copper Gate will be held on Sunday June 30th starting at 5pm. So head on down for one final drink and celebrate the many years of tradition that the Copper Gate has provided Ballard.

Couldn’t get enough of the St.Paddy’s Day Dash, but still a traditional Ballardite at heart? Lace up your red, white, and blue running shoes and warm up for the Leif-to-Leif 5K Run/Walk this Saturday, March 24th. The race goes from the Leif Erikson Lodge to the Leif Erikson statue at Shilshole Marina and back. Check-in begins at 8am and the race starts at 9am. For more information, please visit the Leif Erickson Lodge website. It’s all a part of the Norwegian Heritage Celebration taking place in Ballard.

If running isn’t your forte, you can still honor Norwegian Cultural and Heritage Day. The Leif Erikson Lodge is hosting numerous family-friendly activities to participate in, including a Taste of Norway. Starting at 10am, you can sample traditional Norwegian cuisine, such as pickled herring, krumkake, smorbord (open faced sandwiches), rommegrot (cream porridge), and more. Kids can enjoy arts and crafts, and even dance to the traditional Norwegian music, provided by the various choirs and bands. For more information, please visit the Norway Embassy website here.

Embrace your inner Norwegian (whether truly or honorary) and stop by the Leif Erikson Lodge on Saturday, March 24th. Festivities will go from 10am – 4pm. Admission is free. It will truly be an event honoring the culture of the people who settled Ballard and made it what it is today.

Yar, Ballard vikings. There’s a way to indulge your Scandinavian selves this weekend. The Nordic Lights Film Festival is happening from tonight to Sunday. You have the opportunity to see 9 feature-length films and a package of short films from January 6th – January 8th. If you see all of them, you might find yourself craving lingonberries, running out of butter, and wanting to shop at IKEA.

So, what can you expect at the 3rd annual NLFF? Unfortunately, no Ingmar Bergman. But, there is a slew of fantastic Scandinavian directors out there, so don’t fret. The Oscar and Golden Globe-winning Denmark movie, “In a Better World,” will be playing. Additionally, “When the Pepper Blossoms” will be presented at the festival; it is about Swedish emigration to Brazil at the turn of the century. Visit the NLFF website to see the full list of movies playing this weekend.

Price-wise, it’s $10 for each individual screening. Or you can purchase a festival pass for $50. There’s also a few discounts. Go here for more info. All films will be shown in SIFF cinema at the Film Center. I repeat – the Nordic Lights Film Festival is NOT being shown in lil’ Scandinavian, Ballard, which would be the rational location. In case you don’t know, the SIFF Cinema Film Center is located in the Seattle Center’s Northwest Rooms, between the Key Arena and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

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BALLARD IN A NUTSHELL

Ballard is a Seattle neighborhood located northwest of downtown. Ballard is known for its nordic and maritime roots and is home to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Today the area is a popular living location with hip restaurants and a thriving condominium community.